Collapsible wheel rim



Aug 1&1925.

J. N. GOURLEY COLLAPSIBLEI WHEEL RIM Filed July 17, 1924 n ed Au .r;18 1925.

' UNITED sT j as PATENT om- E.

JAMES IN. GouRLi-JY, or Evansvlnnn, INDIANA, assmnon or FIFTY-own rim CENT T0, CLAUDE r. cun'rrsor EVANSVILLE, INDIA-ave.

comsmm 'wnm ant.

Application filed an 11,, 19 24. semi- No. 726,452

To all 'wh om it concern: 1 I 1 Be it known that 1, James N. Gopnmr, a citizen of the United State's, I'BSldlllg at Evansville, in'the cOuntyOfVanderberg and State of Indiana, have mvented certain new and useful Im rovements -in Collapsible Wheel Rims, of specification. v. This invention relates to, sectional collapsible wheel rims of that general class provided with an interlocking joint :Eor the Y w free ends of the hinged sections.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple duplex interlockin joint of novel form, construction, and actlon for the free ends of the collapsible sections of the-rim, parts 'of which will automatically interlock, after the tire has been placed on the rim and inflated. 1 W

My invention does awaywith the neces-Q sity' of providing a bolt, swinging latch, or

other special mechanical coupling between the free ends of the hinged sections.

My pur ose is to provide an interlocking joint oft e character set forth which will serve the double purpose of preventing-radial movement of the joint and lateral 'rim and in'inflated condition. V v

A practical embodiment of the invention is described hereinafterand shown in the "movement thereof, when the tire is on the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 re 1 is a side elevation, the-rim beosed,

in c Fi'g. 2. is a front view.-lshowingimy improved locking joint. Q Y

Fig. 3 is a side elevat on, the being collapsed and Fi 4 1s a detail p'ers I inter ocking sections of t e joint.

,The rim mag; be oipas .many sectionsfasdesired, accor ng toestablished practice:

In the present instance the invention is illus* 'trated in connection with a three-section rim, the main section appearing-at 1 and the foldable or. collapsl e sections being shown at 2, v3, respectively, hinged to the section 1 b I hinges 4 and 5.

Suita'le lu 6- me be provided on the rim, if desire ,-,-but"t 'a feature constitutes nopart of my invention. i i M. invention resides in the duplex interlocking joint-7 by which the which the following is af other along the line 14, 14..

ective View. of the 'tively laterally free ends of the sections '2 and 3 are connected when the tire is in position on the rim and inflated, I

been commonly employed for securing the freeends of collapsible sections of a rim.

pointedtongues 8, 9, 10. The other section, 3, has notches. 11, 12, 13, conforming to and I mating with the tongues-8, '9, 10. The ends of the sections 2, 3, are adapted to abut each Thetongue 8 and notch 11 are provided .on the base or web parts of the sections 2,

3. The tongues 9, 10, and notches 12, 13, are provided onthe side walls or flanges of The edges of the notches 12,13, and of the tongues 9, 10,1are beveled -'as at 15.

When the tire, ha s been placed on" the, rim and inflated, the ends of the sections 2, 3, are automatically drawn together and The pressure exerted by the inflated tire,

by holding the parts of the joint in engagement as thus described enables, the joint to make it impossible for the rim'sections 2, 3,

jto move radiallyor laterally in relation to each other. This result is'obtained because 7 the tongue .8 and notch 11, when engaged,

prevent lateral movement, whereas the tongues 9, 10, when engaged with the notches 12,13, prevent relative radial movement ojsaid sections;

inwardly in relation thereto, or to be reladisplaced in relation to said felly while the tire is inflated. Iclaimzni A wheel rim having collapsible sections whose free, meeting ends are rovidedwith anexteriorly flat, smooth, uno structed base and smooth side flanges, said bases and mo flanges defining an exteriorly' smooth, unobstructed' channel adapted to receive a tire, one bfthesection's being provided with a V-shaped notch in the end offi ts base and having V-shaped notches inthends'of its side flanges, the other section having a V- One of the sections, 2, is provided with Thfu s, without providing, special fasten- 90 j ings, it is impossible for the rim sections 2, I 3,j'to move away from the wheel felly, move shaped tongue projecting from its base, and other V-shaped tongues on its'side flanges, the tongue on the'base being flush with the outer surface of the base, and the tongues 6 on said side flanges being flush with the inner surfaces of the respective side flanges, the tongues and notches on the flanges having beveled edges and mar ms, respectively, and said tongues being a apted for reception in the corresponding notches bye camming action and serving as the sole locking means for-the ends of the sections. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' JAMES N. GOURLEY. 

